**Summary:**
The Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications, has launched the Sanchar Mitra Scheme, as announced in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1737 on July 30, 2025. The scheme aims to leverage India's youth ("Yuva Shakti") to promote digital empowerment and societal outreach. Under the Sanchar Mitra Scheme, students from participating technical institutes with relevant programs (telecom, electronics, computers, cybersecurity, etc.) will conduct awareness drives in communities, educational institutions, and public spaces. These drives will focus on citizen-centric telecom services, telecom fraud prevention, mobile security, digital safety promotion, and responsible telecom usage.
Driven by positive results from the pilot phase, the scheme is being implemented nationwide. Local field offices (LSAs) of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) are engaging with technical institutes to encourage participation.
The Sanchar Mitra Scheme supports India's ambition to become a telecom research, development, and manufacturing hub. Sanchar Mitras will receive training in areas like cybersecurity, emerging telecom technologies, and telecom policies and regulations. They will also have opportunities to engage with R&D innovation projects, ITU standards, policy work, technical conferences, and industry collaborations, thereby nurturing a skilled and motivated workforce.
Key Entities Referenced
Sanchar Mitra Scheme: A scheme launched by the Government to engage youth for digital empowerment and societal outreach focusing on telecom-related issues.
Ministry of Communications: The government ministry responsible for communication policies and initiatives.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The department under the Ministry of Communications responsible for telecom policies and regulations.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding the Sanchar Mitra Scheme was raised.
ITU: International Telecommunication Union, a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for information and communication technologies.
Yuva Shakti: India's youth, targeted as catalysts for digital empowerment through the Sanchar Mitra Scheme.
Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar: Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, who provided the answer to the question in the Lok Sabha.
cybersecurity: Related to prevention of telecom frauds and mobile security promoting digital safety, and foster responsible telecom usage.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1737
ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025
LAUNCHING OF SANCHAR MITRA SCHEME
† 1737. SHRI CHAVAN RAVINDRA VASANTRAO:
SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:
SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has launched a new scheme called ‘Sanchar Mitra’;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the salient features of the said scheme;
(c) the aims and objectives of the said scheme;
(d) whether the Government proposes to extend/scale up this scheme for nationwide
implementation considering the enthusiastic response at its pilot phase, if so, the details in this regard;
and
(e) the manner in which this scheme will help in achieving the Country's vision of becoming
telecom research development and manufacturing hub?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) Yes.
(b) & (c) The Sanchar Mitra Scheme envisions to engage the Yuva Shakti- India’s youth, as
catalysts for digital empowerment and societal outreach. The students nominated as Sanchar Mitra
are expected to actively conduct awareness drives in communities, educational institutions, public
spaces, etc., focusing on key telecom-related issues, like citizen-centric telecom services, prevention
of telecom frauds and mobile security - promoting digital safety, and foster responsible telecom
usage.
This scheme is open to students from those technical institutes that have active telecom,
electronics, computers, cybersecurity or similar programs and have agreed to participate in the
scheme.
(d) Yes, the scheme has been launched for nationwide implementation. The LSAs - field offices
of DoT, have started reaching out to the institutes for their participation in the Scheme.
(e) The Sanchar Mitras will receive various trainings on subjects like, cybersecurity, emerging
technologies in the telecom sector, telecom policies and regulations, etc. The selected Sanchar Mitras
will also have opportunity to experience R&D & innovation projects, ITU standards & policy work,
technical conferences, industry engagement, etc. The scheme also contributes towards India's vision
of becoming a telecom research, development, and manufacturing hub by nurturing a skilled and
motivated work force.
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